Letter to the Editor: Racist Statements Cowardly, Irresponsible, and Unprofessional

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

RACIST STATEMENTS COWARDLY, IRRESPONSIBLE, AND UNPROFESSIONAL

 

Nary a month goes by in Malaysia without a politician making a racially-charged statement and then attempting to defend or justify it. More exasperating still is how these politicians manage to get away with impunity, and how the Prime Minister and party leaders ignore or downplay the incidents.

 

Anyone can tell that Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Mohd Nor’s crass and unfunny remarks that MIC Deputy President M Saravanan and DAP’s Deputy Penang Chief Minister II P Ramasamy are “drunk on the toddy of popularity” and “acting drunk on three bottles after consuming only one” were intended to stoke racial hatred, because they are unrelated to the issue at hand. If the MB had no intention of being racist, then the analogy of being drunk on toddy would never have been used. He knew very well that the insult would not have the same effect on people of other ethnicities. His insult was illogical and irrelevant to the issue at hand, which is as follows: Why was the Hindu temple demolished when the Kedah MB had previously given his express assurance to the Unity Minister and MIC leaders that all relevant parties would be consulted and notified before the destruction of any houses of worship? MIC’s, DAP’s, and the local Hindu communities’ assertions were that the demolition was unfair and not done according to due process, and not that they, the MIC and DAP representatives, were popular, teetotallers, or sober, so why was it necessary to invoke the topic of alcohol consumption and toddy?

 

A leader of calibre would be able to respond to the questions raised, demonstrate knowledge and fairness, and defend his or her decision without having to resort to personal or racial attacks and irrelevant insults. Making a racist statement is a distraction tactic. The MB knew that it would outrage his critics who are of Indian ethnicity, and at the same time it would win him support from certain segments of society who would then see him as a ‘defender of the race and faith.’ However, one cannot defend one’s race and faith by insulting other races and faiths. One can only uplift one’s race, faith, and society through good deeds and by conducting oneself with integrity and competence.

 

In any civilised society and in the eyes of any person with a sense of fairness and integrity, acts such as corruption, abuse of power, and violations of the human rights of minorities are far bigger crimes and sins than the consumption of alcohol. One is not by default a morally upright person merely because one does not consume alcohol. Not all non-Muslims consume alcohol, not all who consume alcohol become intoxicated, and not all who become intoxicated cause harm to others. Consuming alcohol in a social or celebratory setting is a harmless activity in many cultures around the world. To assume that someone who is not of the same race or faith as you is somehow morally inferior to you is a sign of ignorance and immaturity.

 

In his address to the nation in March this year, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin vowed to be a “Prime Minister for all Malaysians”. Yet his silence and inaction on the recent statements of the Kedah MB as well as previous incidents, for example, that of Baling MP Abdul Azeez against Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto, show that he has no plans to follow up on his vow.

 

Each time a politician makes an insulting statement of a racial or religious nature, there will be a short-lived outcry from the public and politicians from other parties. We will then remind the perpetrator that there are over 40 different ethnic groups in Malaysia, that we are a multiracial and multifaith society, that non-Malays also played a role in securing the Independence of the then Malaya from Britain, that non-Malays also play a significant role in nation-building, pay a disproportionately large percentage of taxes, and serve in the civil service and security forces. To dismiss and disrespect the needs and wishes of such a significant percentage of the population is arrogant, dangerous, unfair, and irresponsible. But the cycle of racist verbal abuse resumes each time accountability is demanded of particular politicians. MP Kasthuri Patto was insulted when she asked about the lack of female representation in the Parliamentary Select Committee. M Saravanan and Dr P Ramasamy were insulted when they queried the Kedah MB on the demolition of the temple. Any rational voter can see that these politicians resorted to racially-charged insults when they are not able to show accountability and respond to their political opponents’ queries. The only reason these racist statements were made was to make the persons at the receiving end feel disrespected and unwelcome. The PM and party leaders need to end their silence and complicity in this culture of systemic racism and the use of racist language and hate speech to harass ethnic minorities and political opponents, not merely because politicians and citizens from minority groups deserve better, but because you need to prove to everyone – both those from majority groups and those from minority groups – that you are capable of decency and fair play.

 

WONG EE LYNN

PETALING JAYA

 

Letter to the Editor: Crackdown on Wildlife Trade Sorely Needed and Appreciated

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

CRACKDOWN ON WILDLIFE TRADE SORELY NEEDED AND APPRECIATED

 

It is with relief, hope, and gratitude that environmentalists received the welcome news that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador has directed that all District Police Chiefs will have to report on wildlife trade in their jurisdictions within a month (19 Aug 2020). This is consistent with the IGP’s earlier pledge in October 2019 to crack down hard on wildlife crimes and push for harsher penalties for those convicted of wildlife crimes.

 

We further commend the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)’s decision to revoke the firearm licenses of licence holders who are found to have engaged in the hunting of wildlife, and hope that PDRM will continue to investigate licence holders, and revoke licenses and confiscate firearms where necessary. This is not only an important move to curtail wildlife hunting and to prevent the killing of wildlife in situations where the wild animal does not pose an actual and immediate threat to human lives and safety, but also to preserve national security and reduce firearm-related accidents, injuries, and deaths.

 

Our IGP’s commitment to protecting Malaysia’s wildlife is applauded, as is the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia’s (Perhilitan) recent operations which resulted in the arrest of poachers and the timely rescue of live animals and recovery of wildlife parts and products. The public is, however, understandably concerned that many such operations succeed in the arrests only of rural and indigenous hunters and couriers and other bit-players in wildlife crime networks, while the kingpins who fuel demand and create supply in the wildlife trade manage to avoid detection and arrest. This is why recommendations such as a shoot-on-sight policy will not work – not merely because it goes against human rights and the due process of law and may lead to abuse of power and extrajudicial killings, but because it unfairly targets the pawns in wildlife trade, and may even delay or hinder the discovery and arrest of wildlife kingpins. What we need is for our enforcement agencies to work together with INTERPOL, conservation groups such as TRAFFIC Southeast Asia and MYCAT, and governmental and intergovernmental agencies to gather incriminating evidence against these ringleaders and masterminds and bring them to justice. Without the incapacitation of these wildlife trade syndicates and their leaders, there can be no effective and lasting justice for, or protection of, wildlife.

 

Malaysia’s wildlife species have been declining rapidly due to poaching, habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict. Hardly a week goes by without another news report of elephant or tapir deaths due to traffic accidents or poisoning, or tiger deaths due to poaching or as revenge for eating livestock. For years, concerned members of the public and conservation NGOs have been alerting the police and Perhilitan to the presence of pet stores, traditional medicine shops, restaurants, and online traders selling wildlife and wildlife parts, only to experience frustration and dismay when these reports did not result in arrests or consequences. Conservationists have long urged for swift and decisive action to be taken against wildlife offenders and for harsher penalties to be meted out, but progress has been slow and inconsistent. It is an open secret that VIPs and people in positions of power and influence are often involved in wildlife crimes and often get away unpunished. The ‘soft approach’ to tackling wildlife crimes has not worked. Too much resources and manpower have already been poured into education and awareness programmes, yet at the end of the day when all the posters have been painted and the prizes given out and the mascots have done song-and-dance routines in schools and shopping malls, the wildlife trade has not only continued unabated but flourished, because the financial rewards are significant, and the penalties lenient and derisory. The time for diplomacy and coercion is over, and the time for concrete action is long overdue. For too long, wildlife and environmental crimes have been perceived as being victimless, or less serious than crimes against fellow humans or property, which explains why the penalties are frequently inadequate. Today, we know this is not true. The wildlife trade is a lucrative one, and it finances and is linked to human trafficking, the drug trade, organised crime, governmental corruption, and terrorist activity. The punishment for wildlife offences must therefore be commensurate with their gravity and the damage and harm they cause to the environment, biodiversity, and human society.

 

There are amendments being proposed to the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 to increase the minimum penalty for wildlife poaching to a minimum fine of RM1 million and 15 years’ imprisonment. I believe I speak for all right-thinking and responsible Malaysians when I urge all Members of Parliament to vote in favour of these harsher penalties. Any MP who votes against these proposed harsher penalties should be investigated for any possible links with the wildlife trade industry, as it is inconceivable that there could be any good reason to oppose such a proposal. A vote for a harsher sentence is therefore a vote against corruption, cruelty, and the sheer idiocy of unscientific practices such as the consumption of wild animals for their ostensible medicinal value. A vote for a harsher sentence is not only a vote for the continued survival of wild and endangered species, but a vote for a safer, better, and healthier country and planet.

 

 

WONG EE LYNN

PETALING JAYA

Letter to the Editor: Make A Stand Against Racism and Sexism

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

MAKE A STAND AGAINST RACISM AND SEXISM 

It is correct, proper, and just that the honourable Speaker of the House Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun demanded that Baling MP Abdul Azeez retract his racist and sexist comments made on 13 July against Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto. The decision should have been made more swiftly and decisively to prove Parliament’s unambiguous stand against racially and sexually derogatory language and conduct, and commitment to upholding a certain standard of decency and fair play. 

The purpose and intent of the doctrine of parliamentary privilege is to protect the freedom of parliamentarians to discuss sensitive or controversial issues that may affect laws or the running of a country. It is not intended to protect offensive and persecutory language designed to harass or intimidate political opponents and stymie actual debate and discussion. 

An elected representative who is a repeat offender should therefore face harsher sanctions than a mere retraction of the last offensive statement made. 

Abdul Azeez’s conditional apology is not an apology but an attempt to deflect blame and paint himself as a victim. His claim that he could not possibly be racist or be discriminatory against someone of dark complexion because he is himself of dark complexion cannot be accepted as sincere or truthful. Racism and colour discrimination can be internalised even by those from ethnic minorities or of dark complexion, just as misogyny can be internalised by women through years of social conditioning. 

His claim that he did not intend to be racist also cannot be accepted by any rational person. What other purpose could he have for heckling another elected representative by making fun of her skin colour? If it were indeed true that the seat Kasthuri Patto was sitting in was dimly lit, and Abdul Azeez had no intention of practicing racism or colour discrimination, he would not have asked her to “put on some powder”, but would instead invite her to step forward or present her views from a more brightly-lit area. Instead, his comments that she is “too dark and cannot be seen” and that she should “put on some powder” in order to make herself visible are malicious and intended to ridicule, humiliate, and intimidate a female elected representative as she was raising the very pertinent issue of the lack of female representation in the Select Committee. 

The question to be asked is not whether: “Is Abdul Azeez also of dark complexion?” but “Would he have uttered a similarly disparaging remark to someone of a fairer skin colour?”. The answer is necessarily no, because fair skin is not an object of ridicule and would not have the intended effect of silencing and humiliating the person being teased. 

The next question is “Would he have uttered similar words to another man, that he should somehow alter his physical appearance to make himself more attractive or visible?” The answer is again, no. Men have a long history of talking over women and interrupting or attempting to silence women with offensive and derogatory words often irrelevant to the issue at hand, designed to attack women’s femininity or physical appearance, to make women feel unwelcome and disrespected. This is simply not done to other men, except men who are disabled or who are seen as less masculine than the average man. 

The third question would be “Would he have uttered such words to someone belonging to a majority ethnicity or group, or someone who holds more political or social power than he does?” The answer again is no, because there would be grave repercussions for doing so, and Abdul Azeez’s history in politics indicates that he does not pick on those who hold the majority of support and power. Thus his words and conduct clearly constitute an act of punching down. Parliamentary privilege should never be extended to acts of punching down designed to harass and intimidate other elected representatives and stop useful and constructive debate. 

Elected representatives need to face serious repercussions for hate speech and offensive and discriminatory language and conduct. We have the right to hold them to a higher moral standard because we elected them to represent our values and interests. They should be subjected to greater scrutiny than the average citizen and be made accountable for their words and actions. 

Other elected officials should demonstrate that they are good allies who are capable of making a stand against injustice, inequality, and discrimination, by speaking up against racism and sexism, and standing up for another person facing bullying and unfair attacks, no matter which political party he or she is from. This is not because the tables could be turned one day and you could find yourself sitting on the Opposition bench, but because standing up for someone who is unfairly treated is the decent, just, and responsible thing to do. Your political views can differ from that of someone else, but you need to stand up for someone who is being unfairly treated or ridiculed based on his or her gender, race, faith, skin colour, physical attributes, or other vulnerability. This will persuade us that we, the electorate, have made the right choice in electing and supporting you, and that you are a representative who will protect and assist everyone, especially the marginalised and vulnerable. 

We need to take a stronger and more decisive stand against racism and sexism as a society. We know that it happens to women and people of different races in different settings – when it comes to the hiring of workers, the selection of tenants, or the treatment of employees and customers, for instance. We know that some categories of people are more susceptible to discrimination and unfair treatment than others, and we need to make it clear that it is unacceptable and we will not participate in the discrimination. We need to have the courage to say to someone in a position of power or privilege: “That sounded rather unkind”, “That doesn’t seem fair to me”, “It is only fair that we meet this applicant and interview him/her first”, “She/he is not done talking, please let her continue”, “She/he has a point, let’s hear it from her/him.” We need to centre and amplify the voices of those who are not heard and who had not enjoyed the same privileges and opportunities that we had. Just because we are not participating in the act of bullying or discrimination does not mean we are not complicit in systemic sexism, racism, and discrimination against those who hold less political and social power than we do. It is time for all of us to listen, learn, and change. And this change includes rejecting and voting out politicians whose values are not consistent with those of an equitable, just, and progressive society. 

WONG EE LYNN 

PETALING JAYA

Letter to the Editor: Short-Term Thinking Is Destroying Malaysian Rainforests

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 

SHORT-TERM THINKING IS DESTROYING MALAYSIAN RAINFORESTS 

The Kedah State Government’s rush to resume logging activities in the Greater Ulu Muda Forest and the Terengganu State Government’s decision to degazette the Belara Forest Reserve to make way for plantations are proof that politicians are incapable of thinking of the long-term consequences of their decisions or prioritising the future of the Planet and country. 

Upon the conclusion of each General Election, politicians and state governments proceed with indecent haste to degazette and log forested areas and exploit natural resources before they get voted out in the subsequent elections. Clearly the lessons taught by the COVID-19 pandemic on the importance of preserving ecological balance and biodiversity are lost on Malaysian political leaders, who are wired for instant gratification and not long-term thinking. 

In theory, logging may appear to be a sustainable activity and timber may appear to be a renewable resource. However, this is no longer the case in countries such as Malaysia due to diminishing forests and the overexploitation of forests and forest products. 

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations reports that Malaysia has seen a 60% decline in log exports since 1980 due to the decline in harvestable forest products. Surely there are enough clear indicators that the overharvesting of timber and forest products in the short term will lead to a greater loss of potential earnings in the long run, while increasing the risk of environmental disasters. 

In spite of the fact that forests are made up of flora and fauna that are capable of propagation and regeneration, tropical rainforests are hardly the renewable resources that politicians take them for. Primary forests are complex and fragile ecosystems. Once disturbed for logging, quarrying, or agricultural activities, secondary forest species and recolonisers such as fast-growing climbing plants and epiphytes grow in the clearings created by human activity. Over time, these recolonisers overtake the primary rainforest species in their numbers and affect the composition and biodiversity of a forest, changing its very nature, and increasing the risk of mass extinction of thousands of species. 

Disturbed and cleared rainforests, even if fortunate enough not to be clear-cut and converted into plantations, quarries, or dams, end up becoming unproductive wastelands that are incapable of supporting wildlife or providing the same variety of ecosystem services, such as flood mitigation and carbon sequestration, as primary rainforests. The reduced ability of a cleared or decimated forest to absorb solar energy and release water vapour leads to higher temperatures and a decline in rainfall. 

The Greater Ulu Muda Forest, for instance, is a critical water catchment area for the northern states of Kedah, Perlis and Penang and supplies water to, among others, the Ahning, Muda and Pedu Dams. Ulu Muda further provides economic and sociocultural services which include ecotourism, the harvesting of forest products, and a home for indigenous and rural communities. According to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia, the Ulu Muda forest complex supplies as much as 96% of Kedah’s, 50% of Perlis’ and 80% of Penang’s water supply. In addition to providing water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use, Ulu Muda also provides vital ecological services such as climate regulation, soil erosion prevention, biodiversity conservation and maintenance of soil, water and air quality. 

The 2016 drought affecting the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia is directly linked to logging activities in the Ulu Muda forest complex, which affected climate and water cycle patterns, resulting in a massive decline in dam water levels and a postponement of the paddy planting season. Logging in Ulu Muda would affect the survival and food and water security of a significant percentage of the population of Northern Peninsular Malaysia. Is the Kedah State Government prepared to deal with the environmental and economic fallout of the deforestation of Ulu Muda? 

As for the Belara Forest Reserve, this lowland tropical rainforest which is home to Great Hornbills and other vulnerable and endangered species was surreptitiously degazetted to make way for palm oil plantations. We can already foresee some of the immediate adverse impacts of the degazettement and deforestation. Orchard owners whose fruit orchards surround the Belara Forest Reserve will see reduced yield, and more contamination of soil and water due to the agricultural chemicals used in conventional oil palm cultivation. When forests are cleared, malaria and dengue infections will rise. Landslides and flash floods will be a common occurrence, as ground cover crops are eliminated in monoculture plantations. Perhaps there will be another disastrous flood, more severe than the one that destroyed much of the East Coast in the monsoon season of 2014-2015. Is that the price the people of Terengganu are willing to pay for a few extra jobs that come with the opening up of new plantations? Is the Terengganu State Government willing to bear the healthcare costs of mosquito-borne diseases and respiratory illnesses arising from haze and poorer air quality? Does the State Government have plans to deal with increased human-wildlife conflict and water and food insecurity following deforestation, floods, drought, and haze? 

Until State Governments can explain such plans to us in detail and persuade us that they are equipped to handle the loss and damage arising from the loss of forests, they cannot be said to be acting in the best interests of the state or its citizens, and their actions therefore lack moral and political legitimacy.  

Politicians need to be able to look beyond the next 5-10 years and think about the future of the country in the next 50-100 years. Politicians who put short-term personal benefits above long-term environmental protection and the well-being, health, and safety of its citizens have no place in a responsive and democratic society. 

WONG EE LYNN 

PETALING JAYA

Letter To The Editor: Make Environment A Priority, Not An Afterthought

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

MAKE ENVIRONMENT A PRIORITY, NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT

 

It is heartening to know that 69% of Malaysian voters consider environmental protection to be one of the factors that will influence the way they will vote in the upcoming General Elections (The Star, Sun 15 March 2018).

 

For far too long, sustainability and environmental conservation have been put on the backburner or seen as something ideal but inessential. In recent years, the destruction and human suffering caused by the East Coast floods, the 2014 droughts which led to water rationing in Selangor, the pollution of water sources in Cameron Highlands, reduced fish bycatch, the clearing of more land and forest for highway and infrastructure construction, the recurring haze, wildlife deaths and the economic uncertainty arising from the European Parliament’s proposed ban on palm oil biodiesel from Malaysia for environmental reasons have all played a role in raising public awareness on the interconnectedness of human and environmental well-being.

 

Having perused the election manifestos of both political coalitions, however, I am of the opinion that more specific, effective and convincing pledges need to be made. As we are all aware, the actions of legislators and governmental decision-makers are often inconsistent with their pledges. Some of these inconsistencies are pointed out below:

 

ON CLIMATE MITIGATION

 

Both coalitions pledge to take action to reduce carbon emissions by way of measures such as cleaner diesel and petrol and increasing the development and use of renewable energy.

 

Yet at the same time Barisan Nasional’s pledges to accelerate the growth of the oil and gas industries, its Forest Economy Policy which focus is on income generation and not conservation and its proposals to construct more roads and highways effectively efface any good that its plans to introduce electric buses, switch to LED lights and create urban parks and recreational areas could potentially create.

 

Pakatan Harapan has pledged to promote the development and use of green technology and renewable energy and halt Barisan Nasional’s plans to construct a nuclear power plant, but at the same time plans to reintroduce petroleum subsidies and construct more roads and highways.

 

Both coalitions should instead focus on policies to reduce reliance on private vehicle ownership and driving, by establishing reliable and affordable non-fossil fuel powered public transport systems, creating incentives for telecommuting and upgrading existing road and rail infrastructure instead of opening up more land for highways and roads.

 

ON DEFORESTATION

 

Both coalitions pledged to curtail illegal logging and manage forests and forest resources sustainably, despite their existing history of doing the exact opposite.

 

Barisan Nasional had authorized logging and forest clearing in Ulu Muda, Merapoh and Terenggun, among others, despite knowing the importance of the ecosystem services provided by these forest reserves.

 

Similarly, Pakatan Harapan in its previous election manifesto had pledged to gazette and conserve forests and halt illegal logging, but went on to degazette parts of the Selangor State Park for the construction of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE), and this action makes voters now wary about their lofty promises to halt deforestation.

 

Both coalitions pledged to preserve biodiversity and wildlife populations, yet under their watch, the construction of yet more highways and roads has opened up access to wildlife for poachers and wildlife traffickers, and caused an alarming increase in wildlife roadkill. The rakyat needs to witness sincerity on the part of the political leaders in protecting forests, water catchment areas and environmentally sensitive areas. No amount of public relations exercises comprising the planting of trees in urban parks is able to reverse the adverse impact of rampant deforestation, fragmentation of wildlife habitats and the opening up of more land for infrastructure projects.

 

ON WASTE MANAGEMENT AND PLASTIC POLLUTION

 

Both coalitions promised to improve solid waste collection services and ease of recycling.

 

Yet Barisan Nasional proposed to reverse the ban on free plastic bags in Pakatan states, and has allowed the plastics manufacturing industry to be a powerful lobby.

 

In Pakatan states, the ban on free plastic bags has normalized waste reduction practices and encouraged consumer environmental responsibility, but the replacement of styrofoam food packaging with other forms of plastic packaging that are neither biodegradable nor collected and recovered for recycling has cancelled some of the benefits of the plastic bag and styrofoam ban.

 

According to a 2015 study published in Science journal, Malaysia is among the top 8 highest-offending ocean plastic polluters in the world. Malaysia is one of the 200 countries which signed the December 2017 UN resolution on microplastics and marine litter, but has to date not been seen to do anything constructive to reduce plastics production, consumption and disposal, although the Selangor State Government has been regularly cleaning up its beaches, which, while commendable, constitutes a treatment of the symptoms and not the cause.

 

Both coalitions need to create incentives for waste reduction and alternatives to plastics and other harmful and wasteful materials and industries. The environment cannot wait. Already human and animal health and food security have been adversely affected by plastics pollution and poor waste management practices.

 

Voters are becoming better informed, and will not stand for environmental tokenism by either political coalition. It cannot be the job of concerned citizens, non-governmental organisations and volunteers alone to protect and speak up for Malaysia’s natural environment and resources.

 

Malaysia stands to gain more economic benefits and ecosystem services from keeping its forests, mangroves and other environmentally-sensitive areas intact and biologically diverse, than from issuing permits for logging, mining and road construction. The time to act for the environment is now. Environmental conservation should be each political coalition’s main consideration in all its policies and decisions, and not an afterthought.

 

WONG EE LYNN COORDINATOR,

GREEN LIVING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP,

MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY

Letter to the Editor: Get Serious Against Turtle Egg Consumption

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

GET SERIOUS AGAINST TURTLE EGG CONSUMPTION

At least once a year, volunteers from the Malaysian Nature Society assist local turtle conservation and management centres by cleaning up the premises, sprucing up turtle quarantine ponds and hatcheries, carrying out beach clean-ups and releasing turtle hatchlings. Our volunteers include children as young as two, in the hope that our efforts will go a little way towards ensuring the continued survival of these amazing and gentle marine animals. A lot of resources have gone into educating the local communities on the need to protect turtle populations, and discouraging littering, poaching and turtle egg consumption.

And this is what makes the incident in which Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Beluran UMNO Division Chief Datuk James Ratib were photographed dining at a restaurant in which large quantities of turtle eggs were served all the more disheartening and disappointing. More dispiriting still are the excuses made expressing ignorance, firstly of what type of eggs were on the table, next, of the menu and the decision to serve turtle eggs, and then, of the law prohibiting the sale and consumption of turtle eggs in the state of Sabah. At no point did the Minister express regret or outrage that the turtle eggs were served, or support for conservation laws protecting endangered species such as turtles. The Minister’s dismissive responses and claim of ignorance of the law further reflect poorly on the mindset of those in a decision-making capacity in relation to issues of environmental and wildlife conservation and animal protection.

As a Minister with such an important portfolio, his plea of ignorance – that he was not aware of what eggs they were, that he did not know turtle eggs would be served, and that he was not aware it was illegal to sell and consume turtle eggs – is unacceptable. Not only is it clear from the photographic evidence that the Minister did not object to the fact that turtle eggs were served and consumed, it is also a matter of concern that he repeatedly attempted to deflect blame, first to the organisers of the event, then to the restaurateur, and most recently to unknown and unnamed “outsiders” without acknowledging that a wildlife crime had been committed, that he had been a party to it whether intentionally or otherwise, and that he has a duty to cooperate with the authorities and wildlife NGOs to ensure that action is taken against those responsible for the offence. Whether or not the Minister had himself consumed the turtle eggs due to his claim of high cholesterol levels is less important than the fact that he had witnessed a wildlife offence and did not feel that it was his responsibility to address or stop it. Malaysian citizens do not need to know if a Minister has high cholesterol levels. We do, however, need to know that when an elected representative witnesses a crime, he or she is willing to call out the guilty parties, stop the crime, prevent a reoccurrence and do whatever it is within his or her power to ensure laws are enforced expeditiously and fairly.

Malaysia already has a reputation, internationally, as a hub for wildlife trafficking, trade and exploitation. Marine pollution, coastal development and erosion, destructive fishing methods, deliberate poaching and turtle egg consumption have all contributed to a drastic decline in turtle populations. According to WWF Malaysia, leatherback turtle populations have declined by more than 99% and Olive Ridley turtles by more than 95%, while Hawksbill and Green turtle populations have decreased since the 1970s and only recently appeared to have stabilised in certain states thanks to concerted conservation, education, awareness and enforcement efforts. Even with the best of intervention measures, turtle survival rates remain low, with only an estimated one in a thousand hatchlings surviving to maturity and breeding age.

I believe I speak for all concerned citizens when I urge that the state wildlife authorities investigate this matter thoroughly, that all elected representatives take a firm stance against the exploitation of and trade in wildlife and endangered species, including but not limited to the consumption of turtle eggs, and that the sale and consumption of turtle eggs be removed from state jurisdiction and be made a Federal offence.

The matter at hand is not a political one. The offence is not less heinous or more easily condoned had it been associated with someone linked with another political party, or individuals with no political affiliations at all. The trade in and exploitation of endangered species and the destruction of Malaysia’s natural heritage should be the concern of all rational and responsible human beings as denizens of the planet, and not merely the concern of ‘environmental organisations’ and ‘conservation groups’.

WONG EE LYNN

COORDINATOR,

GREEN LIVING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP,

MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY, SELANGOR

Coming together for flood relief efforts

It has been a challenging and emotionally-draining two weeks for Malaysia. 

There was so much I initially wanted to write about in my blog -- going ice-skating with Serina, doing a Christmas food distribution run with Reach Out Malaysia complete with Santa hats, trying out new foods and visiting new places, Christmas lunch with Aravind and Nicole, all our new volunteer projects and stray cat rescues. And then two tragedies struck which jolted our country out of our holiday mood -- the Air Asia Indonesia air disaster, and the floods which devastated much of the East Coast and rendered thousands of people homeless. 

Floods are an annual occurrence in the coastal regions of Malaysia during the year-end monsoon season. Perhaps that was why we didn't react with surprise when we first heard about it. We knew that precautions had to be taken, but we didn't see it as a cause for alarm yet. In my childhood, I had spent most of my year-end school holidays with family in the East Coast. I had seen how our relatives who lived in the villages secure their belongings to the beams of the roof when the water starts to rise. We have stood at the balcony of my grandmother's little apartment and watched the rising floodwaters swirl and eddy as they meet the sea, often taking tables, chairs, bicycles and miscellaneous items out to sea with them. We viewed the forces of Nature as something to be respected, not feared. We had never faced monsoon floods of such magnitude, and were quite unprepared for the destruction it wreaked this year. 

(Photo credits: Jules Ong)

By Christmas Day, news starting coming in rapidly via social media of flood casualties and humans and animals rendered homeless. The government refused to declare an emergency and hummed and hawed as people suffered. Volunteer groups on Facebook started to mobilise donors and friends to collect emergency supplies and arrange for helicopters, boats and 4x4s to deliver flood relief supplies to the stranded and in need. Phone calls were made, emails were sent out, facebook appeals were shared. 

I had assisted in tsunami relief and flood relief efforts in the past, and issued a reminder on my Facebook status to ensure that volunteers came appropriately dressed for physical labour and prepared with gloves, drinking water, garbage bags, packing tape, packing boxes and permanent markers. 

By 26th and 27th December many of my friends and I had organised ourselves into groups to assist in relief and aid efforts in community centres and shopping malls closest to our homes. I had initially planned to assist in the community hall in Bandar Utama, but received a call on Saturday morning informing me that there was a wedding going on in the hall and it would not be reopened for relief work until after 6 p.m. 

I spent half the day attending to vet appointments and helping out at the SPCA shelter as usual before arming myself with packing tape, boxes and other materials to go to the Al-Ikhlas Mosque in SS3 to assist with the volunteer efforts to pack and transport emergency relief supplies and medicines. We arrived to find that the volunteers did not have sufficient small and sturdy cardboard boxes to pack medication (e.g. paracetamol, diarrhoea medication, activated carbon pills etc) in, and so Aravind and I went out again to source for more boxes. We approached two bookstores and a mini-market that I am a regular customer of and was bitterly disappointed when the storekeepers would not part with their cardboard boxes because they claimed that they had promised them to some paper recycling companies. Through gritted teeth, I told them that the flattened boxes would be worth only a few cents to them, but could mean the difference between the medicines arriving tonight or 1-2 days later to the flood victims. As we were turning to leave each shop, the shopkeepers, probably overcome by feelings of guilt, told us they could spare us a few boxes. With relief, we selected several small, sturdy boxes that we could fit boxes of pharmaceutical products in, thanked the shopkeepers and returned to the mosque. 

Soon more volunteers began to trickle in, some fresh from dinner or other weekend activities. The most heartwarming thing about it was that the volunteers were of all different faiths and ethnicities and they were determined to help even though many felt out of place as it was their first time in a mosque. The mosque committee rendered us their cooperation, although I suspect they would normally have frowned upon the presence of girls in shorts and jeans within the mosque premises. But we were here to help, not to discuss fashion and the length of shorts and skirts, and we got to work immediately, in orderly rows, to sort donated items. 

We packed the sanitary pads and diapers into strong garbage bags according to size and labelled each bag using masking tape and permanent marker to expedite the distribution process. 

We packed canned food, milk powder, baby formula, biscuits, instant beverages and instant noodles into boxes according to type and sealed and labelled each box to ensure they reached their destination safe and sound and could be identified and distributed easily. 

We stacked sacks of rice according to size so they could go straight into the trucks later. 

The flood victims were currently in evacuation centres, most of them without personal care or hygiene products, and so we packed hotel soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste into packs for each family for easier and faster distribution. 

A Good Samaritan had managed to wheedle over 300 large plastic ice cream tubs from an ice-cream vending company and we washed and dried the tubs to put sensitive medical equipment and supplies in. Volunteers went out to purchase pharmaceutical products using money donated by kindhearted citizens, according to lists provided by volunteer doctors and nurses who would be going on emergency missions to assist the flood victims. I dried the washed tubs as quickly and thoroughly as I could, and handed them to volunteers working in rows to fill them with tablets for common ailments, cough syrups, oral rehydration salts, and First Aid supplies. Aravind and another volunteer hurriedly listed the contents of each tub to be pasted on the top of the tub so the medical personnel could tell immediately if what they needed was in a particular tub. Boxes of bandages, paracetamol and cough medicine went into smallish cardboard boxes to be transported together with the volunteer doctors via helicopter the following morning. We worked like well-oiled machinery that night. 

The friendly mosque cat wanted to know what we were doing so I took a short break to cuddle him. 

The first trailer pulled up into the mosque compound before midnight and we formed a human chain to move the boxes and packages out of the mosque hall and into the trailer. It was heartwarming to see the determined faces of volunteers of every faith and ethnicity, working hard to ease the suffering of their fellow men. 

I know that many of them felt the way I did -- we wish we could do more, give more. We wish we could be there on the ground, rescuing people and animals, helping to look for missing persons, transporting people to safer places, attending to the ill and injured, helping in the cleaning up and rebuilding efforts. But we could not, not with our work and family commitments, not with our limited resources, not with our lack of emergency response skills that would make us liabilities, not assets, in a disaster zone. 

So we did what we could, and gave what we could afford. All over the country, kind and generous people scraped together what they could to help others in greater need and put in effort to help others. Strong and healthy friends donated blood to help flood victims that were airlifted to the hospitals. Many others helped with the packing and sorting and transporting, just as we had. Even children and senior citizens who could not lift heavy items helped out in aid collection centres by packing hygiene packs and school supplies. Some others washed and dried donated clothes and blankets so that the recipients would have clean and fragrant clothes to sleep in. Friends with 4x4 vehicles and pickup trucks and access to helicopters and boats took time off work to deliver much-needed aid and medical assistance to flood victims, especially the indigenous communities, who were cut off without food or clean drinking water in their villages with no means of getting to the evacuation and relief centres. 

Caring individuals set up small animal rescue operations to rescue stranded and injured animals and distribute pet food to animal guardians who manage to flee their homes with their companion animals. The SPCA came onto the scene late (as usual!) but managed to work together with Petfinder and another rescue group to set up satellite centres in each affected state where rescued animals could be given temporary shelter until their humans came to take them home. Those who are not claimed by their humans would be neutered and put up for adoption. With the assistance of the Department of Veterinary Services, each satellite centre would also actively carry out neutering and vaccination to prevent unwanted animal births and illnesses which could further make things worse in areas that are already economically crippled by the floods. 

(Photo credits: Kelvin Cheah, SPCA Selangor and independent rescuer, Muhammad Razeef. Not to be shared without permission) 

Our friend Alison worked with a 4x4 elite response team and the Coalition of Orang Asal (Indigenous Communities) Concerns to deliver relief supplies to the villages deep in the jungles that are cut off and unable to receive government aid. 

When we heard about what their group was doing, we again dug deep into our pockets to buy food and emergency supplies for the communities. I managed to persuade my parents and Covert Twin to donate to this cause as well, and combined with some money received from other friends -- Amanda, Angie Yong and Ee Phin -- managed to purchase and deliver over 2 shopping carts full of food and supplies to them. 

Photos were taken of the mission to let us know that our food aid has reached the intended beneficiaries. 

(Photo credits: Alison Sandra Murugesu, Larry Lee and Rob Armstrong. Not to be shared without permission) 

The worst floods in the country brought out the best in Malaysians. 

In times of grave hardship and need, we cast our differences aside and worked as one to reduce the suffering of others, working more efficiently and quickly than governmental agencies. Still, we know that the floods will only get worse every year if efforts are not made by those in power to halt deforestation and take immediate flood mitigation and stormwater management measures. Environmental groups have been warning of the dangers of deforestation and monocrop plantations (oil palm does not have the ability to absorb and slowly release water the way a diverse range of rainforest trees would) for years, but nobody listened, and now among the poorest and most vulnerable of our citizens have to suffer due to the greed and arrogance of those in a decision-making capacity. 

The worst floods in the history of Malaysia taught us many lessons. It taught, and continues to teach, us about the environmental cost of unplanned and unregulated development and deforestation, the need to have proper drainage and irrigation systems and permeable surfaces, the importance of watersheds and water catchment areas, and the need to manage resources wisely. 

But looking at the number of individuals who stepped forward to contribute, I also realise that this disaster taught us that we are more alike than we are different, that we can count on one another in times of need, that no matter what our faith, ethnicity, social class or political persuasion, we won't let each other suffer, and that together, we are strong. 

My country, Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku, I love you more in your time of need than I ever have, for it is in your most vulnerable moments that I see your strength.

Letter to the Editor: Assumptions about Migrant Workers Inaccurate and Unhelpful

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT MIGRANT WORKERS INACCURATE AND UNHELPFUL

Hassan Talib's claims on the reasons why migrant workers come to Malaysia and the Malaysian authorities' treatment of undocumented migrants ('Time To Flush Out Illegals', The Star, Nov 19) are rooted in neither facts nor reality.

His comment that undocumented migrants are attracted to Malaysia because of the "good and humane treatment" extended to undocumented migrants is way off the mark. Malaysia's disproportionately harsh treatment of undocumented migrants, which includes flogging and detention without trial under the Immigration Act 1959/1963, as well as poor detention conditions which leave detainees susceptible to communicable diseases, sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of harm, is a matter of grave concern and has been documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Suhakam, among others.

If the writer had ever set foot in an immigration detention camp, he would realise that the 'warm clothing' and 'proper documentation' he had waxed lyrical about do not exist, and any food given is inadequate and would not pass basic hygiene standards. SUARAM reported in 2008 that detainees are only given one cup or half a bottle of water a day. Instances of ill-treatment of detainees, deaths in detention and human trafficking by immigration officials are reported by both domestic and international media.

The UNHCR and other intergovernmental agencies have never "acknowledged Malaysia to be one of the few developing countries that honours and practices the UN Charter in taking care of illegal immigrants". Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, or the 1951 Convention or 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. Malaysia does not distinguish between refugees and undocumented migrants, and routinely subject all undocumented migrants, including refugees, to arbitrary arrest, detention and physical punishment. Many undocumented migrants and refugees report of extortion, beatings and other harm in the hands of the Malaysian security forces, paramilitary volunteer corps and employers.

Far from being a "haven for illegal immigrants", Malaysia is actually ranked one of the worst places for migrant workers to work in by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) due to the lack of rights and protection for migrant workers, whether legal or undocumented. The recent deaths of 3 Bangladeshi workers in the MRT construction accident highlight the dangers that migrant workers face in their daily work due to the lack of legal protection and occupational health and safety measures.

The reasons why migrant workers continue to flock to Malaysia in search of jobs are grinding poverty, lack of economic opportunities, civil or political strife, and persecution in their home countries, as well as the untruthful promise of lucrative jobs by agents and employers who go to rural villages to lure young men to work abroad. Governmental corruption and lax border security make it easy for undocumented migrants to enter and remain in Malaysia, despite the threats to their lives, safety and freedom.

No rational person would actually believe that undocumented migrant workers in the agriculture sector are the cause of the illegal land clearing activities in Cameron Highlands. Farm owners prefer to hire migrant workers because they are willing to work long hours for pittance, without benefits and often without protective gear. It is ridiculous to think that the undocumented migrant farm workers are the ones with the prerogative and leverage to order the illegal clearing of land. Migrant farm workers merely follow the instructions of their employers, yet are made scapegoats in latest spate of landslides because Malaysians find it uncomfortable to think of their own countrymen as the culprits.

The environmental crisis in Cameron Highlands is nothing new, nor did it only begin with the arrival of undocumented migrant workers. Every few years, there will be reports of water pollution, use of banned pesticides and herbicides and rampant land clearing in Cameron Highlands, all stemming from the lack of monitoring and enforcement. The problems of landslides, pollution, lower agricultural yield and higher temperatures in Cameron Highlands are not going to go away with the arrest of migrant workers.

As long as the authorities are unwilling to monitor and enforce laws against the farms, as long as consumers are willing to settle for cheaper produce with a high pesticide residue load, as long as farm owners are not made responsible for the environmental health and safety of their farms, farm products and areas surrounding their farms, there can be no resolution to the problems plaguing Cameron Highlands.

As conscientious citizens, we need to take a long, hard look at ourselves, acknowledge our roles in the damage we've caused to the environment and the human rights abuses we've inflicted on migrant workers, assume responsibility and make reparations to finally put things right.

WONG EE LYNN

PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR

Letter to the Editor: Stop Stereotyping the Homeless as Freeloaders

The sweeping generalisations made by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim about the homeless being lazy and pampered (The Star, 23 June 2014) demonstrate the ministry’s abject lack of compassion and understanding for some of the most marginalised members of our society. 

It is a grim sign of the state of our society when the government ministries responsible for the welfare of its citizens are content to blame volunteers and non-governmental organisations for the burgeoning number of impoverished and homeless individuals. I have been a volunteer with homeless outreach organisations for many years, and I uphold that these organisations and their volunteers are neither naïve nor foolish, as the government implies. Homeless outreach organisations offer more than just food. Almost all offer basic counselling services, employment counselling and referrals, assistance to families and vulnerable individuals, legal advice and assistance, First Aid services and medical assistance, and opportunities for the homeless to find better jobs and re-enter mainstream society. For many of the most socially-excluded individuals, the practical help we extend is our way of telling them: “You have friends. We are here to support you, and help you when you are ready. We can talk, when your stomach is no longer hungry. Here is some food, and you don’t have to resort to unlawful or degrading means to obtain it.” 

Most of the homeless individuals in Malaysia are not unemployed, but are working at low-paying jobs. Some have mental illness or are of subaverage intelligence and therefore unemployable. Some lost their jobs due to the deteriorating economy, personal problems, clinical depression or other medical issues. Some are victims of crime, sexual abuse or domestic violence. Some were cheated of their wages by employers, or had entered into business partnerships which failed. Some are senior citizens abandoned by their families and are unable to find a welfare home that is able to accept them. But many are just ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet and send money home to their families in other towns and villages. 

The reason for the rising number of homeless people in the streets of Kuala Lumpur is the same as everywhere else in the world – urban migration for better economic opportunities, wage stagnation and rising costs of living. Rising rent, utility costs and fuel costs mean that low-income individuals who were previously able to rent rooms in the city are now no longer able to afford the same. 

While affordable housing is available outside of city limits, the cost of private vehicle ownership and the lack of a reliable public transport system mean that these individuals have no means of travelling to and from work. As a result, many opt to sleep in public areas not far from their workplaces. I reiterate that none of them are pampered, lazy or entitled. All the homeless individuals we have encountered were proud to let us know when they have found rooms to rent, are leaving for better jobs or have saved up enough to return to their villages. They are invariably ready and willing to help one another and the organisations that assist them. NGOs and the food we give out are not the reason people sleep on the streets. Many politely decline food when they have eaten, and ask us to give the food to others in need. Many others care for stray animals, who the volunteers then assist in neutering, vaccinating and feeding. Yet others save on rent so they could send money home to support their aged parents or school-going siblings. 

Homelessness isn't a choice. No child dreams of becoming the person sleeping on the streets when they grow up. Somewhere along the way, something went wrong. Our job is to find out what went wrong and find solutions. We cannot punish people just for their poverty and suffering. 

The measures proposed by the government may face practical setbacks in their implementation. The government has provided drop-in centres and temporary shelters where the homeless and urban poor can obtain food and have a place to shower and rest. However, these shelters are often not operational or open to the homeless. Therefore, NGOs and volunteers are right to feel concerned that the proposed government-run shelters and soup kitchens may not operate consistently or be accessible to all homeless individuals. There is also the concern that the most vulnerable individuals – the abused, the mentally ill, the differently-abled and the victims of street violence – will not be able to come to the soup kitchens and shelters for the assistance they need. 

If the government is sincere in its efforts to eliminate poverty and homelessness, it must first eradicate corruption and the stifling bureaucracy that makes access to shelters and welfare homes an immense challenge. There must be legislation and real measures to implement a realistic livable minimum wage, protect the rights of workers, amend bankruptcy and foreclosure laws, allocate a percentage of land and housing for the poor and disadvantaged and ensure that the latter are reserved for low-income citizens. Long-term solutions can also be found in providing state-funded high quality education and skills training, microcredit loans for the deserving, mental health treatment and assistance for the mentally-ill and substance-addicted, hostels and job training for ex-convicts and former drug users, and legal assistance and safe houses for women who are victims of domestic violence, trafficking or entrapment into the sex trade. Investigations must be conducted into cases of unfair land acquisition, water and soil pollution and other forms of destruction of rural areas which threaten the economic survival of rural communities, causing rural folk to move to cities and end up as squatter citizens. 

Instead of waging war against the homeless, laws and society should wage war against poverty. The government cannot make it illegal for people to be homeless unless there are systems in place to make it virtually impossible to be homeless. 

WONG EE LYNN 

PETALING JAYA, 

SELANGOR

Letter to the Editor: Stop Using Animals As Tools of Political Harassment

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
STOP USING ANIMALS AS TOOLS OF POLITICAL HARASSMENT

The abandonment of a sick and dehydrated live duck outside the Malaysiakini office on 25 Feb 2014 is just the latest incident in a long series of instances of animal cruelty as a form of political harassment and insult. It came after an incident where a dead chicken was left at the office of Seputeh MP Theresa Kok on 19 Feb, the protest against DAP leaders in which chickens were slaughtered and blood smeared on a banner, the killing and dressing up of a pig to insult a politician, the inflammatory “cow head protests” of 2009, and the hurling of pigs and pork into the compounds of houses of worship.

 Such acts of cruelty and disrespect for animal lives demonstrate the ignorance, thoughtlessness and inhumanity of the perpetrators. The perpetrators of these acts are clearly uncivilised and incapable of sophisticated and intelligent debate. What is more unacceptable is that such acts of animal cruelty as a method of political harassment are condoned by political and religious leaders, ostensibly on grounds that these are merely animal lives and no physical harm has been caused to humans.

All religions and ethical ideologies advocate stewardship of the environment and animals. From a human-centered point of view, the unnecessary killing of animals in order to insult or taunt others is a waste of resources at a time when many people are suffering from poverty and hunger. From a compassionate and biocentric point of view, the killing of these animals is cruel and indefensible. Animals are not and should not be made parties to our political and religious conflicts. Through these pointless killings of animals, we are also indirectly desensitizing people, especially the younger generation, to animal cruelty and violence, wherein causing pain and suffering to sentient beings is normalised and no longer becomes a cause for concern or source of grief.

There are some who will argue that the animals harmed in these incidents are domestic and farm animals that would be slaughtered and consumed in any event. However, just because they are not endangered species or someone's beloved companion animal does not mean that they are incapable of pain and suffering. All over the world, the agricultural industry is under pressure to institute better farming methods that would improve the welfare of farm animals and reduce suffering. The number of vegetarians and vegans worldwide is growing. Most developed and developing nations are implementing better animal protection laws and guidelines. Malaysia too has no shortage of animal rescue groups, welfare organisations and concerned people who are offended and distressed by the rising number of political animal sacrifices.

No politician or interest group that practices or excuses cruelty to animals deserves our support. Killing and hurting animals in order to antagonise one's political opponents indicates a depraved and sadistic mind. It stands to reason that a political leader who is dismissive towards animal lives is unlikely to be sympathetic or compassionate to his fellow humans or other living beings. Malaysians from both sides of the political divide must rise up and speak out against animal cruelty. The first step to becoming a more humane, responsive and caring society starts with you and me.

WONG EE LYNN
PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR

Compassion for our hurting country

There isn't much I can say about our 13th General Elections that has not already been succintly and fairly reported in The Economist and the Council for a Community of Democracies.

(Reproduced from the New York Times without permission but in accordance with the principles of fair use)


Just 8 days after our Elections, our country observed the 44th anniversary of the May 13, 1969 racial riots.

As expected, several disgruntled politicians and the government-controlled media did not pass up the opportunity to raise the spectre of the May 13 incident in the hopes of inciting racial hatred, dividing a largely peaceful and united electoriate and instilling fear and compliance in people.

But we are a generation of young Malaysians typified by courage, resilience, racial assimilation, intelligence and political insight. The ruling coalition's ploy to instil fear and hatred backfired, and almost immediately, dozens of ad hoc social media groups were created to promote racial and religious harmony and to organise and hold community events on May 13.

The magnanimity of our fellow Malaysians was, frankly, astounding. From being a feared and dark blight on Malaysian history, May 13 was reclaimed and rebranded as a national day of healing and reconciliation.

A Facebook Group, Kita Kawan Mah (We Are Friends) was set up to highlight interracial friendships and instances of community spirit. It received over 10,000 "likes' within 48 hours.
(Photo reproduced from Kita Kawan Mah without permission but in accordance with the principles of fair use)

A group of volunteers handing out flowers to passersby in Brickfields on May 13.
(Photo reproduced from The Star without permission but in accordance with the principles of fair use)

In response to a politician's incendiary remarks about "what more do the Chinese (voters) want?", a community group organised an interracial picnic party, "Saya Mahu Picnic" (I Want To Picnic) at the Lake Gardens.
(Photo reproduced from The Star without permission but in accordance with the principles of fair use)


I agreed to be a part of "Compassion for Malaysia" a movement started by a friend of a friend on Facebook, in which participants pledge to fast and pray on May 13 for our country's peace, stability, progress and healing. Over 300 people pledged to fast at the same time, as a way of purifying ourselves and our thoughts.

I further suggested the following Random Acts of Kindness to be carried out on the said day in addition to fasting. Random Acts of Kindness remind us to live our lives mindfully, graciously, courteously and gratefully. RAOKs will put the power back in your hands as agents of positive change. Examples of RAOKs I suggested include:
1. - Finding out the name of the office cleaner/ gardener / security guard and then greeting them by name each day. Finding out more about their lives. Having a treat or two on hand for them to thank them for a job well done.
2. - Leaving kind and encouraging comments on blogs, FB and other social media sites.
3. - Finding out the address of our former schoolteachers and sending them thank you notes.
4. - Locating our old school friends on Facebook, adding them and then inviting them over for a meal.
5. - Volunteering for a worthy cause.
6. - Donating blood
7. - Signing up to be an organ donor with the National Transplant Resource Centre.
8. - Signing up with the Malaysian Stem Cell Registry and donating a blood sample for their database.
9. - Tutoring needy students who cannot afford private tuition.
10. - Getting to know your neighbours and offering assistance in keeping an eye on their house, plants or pets when they are away.
11. - Participating in local community events, e.g. neighbourhood jumble sales, sports days, cleanup campaigns and recycling drives.
12. - Attending a fundraising event at your local school even if you do not have any family members studying there.
13. - Organising a cleanup campaign to help remove and tidy up post-election banners and buntings.
14. - Planting a tree in your local park.
15. - Volunteering with the Fire and Rescue Services Dept as neighbourhood fire hydrant supervisors.

My ideas were received with enthusiasm. As this is the first year we are organising such an event, we didn't have the opportunity to plan anything elaborate. I have been invited to help organise the Random Acts of Kindness part of the event on the same day next year, and of course I accepted the challenge.

Facebook and blogs were full of multilingual posts about the kindness of strangers, interracial friendships and the rejection of race-based politics. My heart swelled with pride reading each and every post, and I have never been prouder to be Malaysian. Politicians can try to manipulate us, but we have proven ourselves to be bigger and better than they are, and much more and much better than the narrow categories they try to restrict us to. Democracy is alive and well. Next year we will return even bigger and better. The force of good will always, always triumph over the force of evil. Things are going to get worse before they get better right now, but I have no doubt that they will get better. The days of racist, corrupt and crony-based politics are over. Each and every political party will have to reform and reinvent itself if it wants to try to win the support of an increasingly urban and educated electorate. Things can only get better from here. We shall overcome. We shall overcome.